Aston Martin Vantage Review

The luxury GT market has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with consumers pursuing not only the driving excitement brought by powerful performance but also valuing comfort and practicality for daily use. As a mid-cycle facelift model of the classic two-door GT from the brand, the 2024 Aston Martin Vantage stands out with a comprehensive upgrade to its powertrain and enhanced intelligent configurations, making this elegantly renowned sports car boast even stronger performance capabilities. This test drive will focus on the vehicle’s performance, handling, design, and practicality to see if it can meet drivers’ dual demands for speed and comfort in the luxury GT segment.

From the exterior, the 2024 Vantage continues the family’s signature wide and low stance, with overall lines that remain fluid and full of strength. At the front, the large trapezoidal grille has been adjusted in size and features a black honeycomb pattern inside, complemented by sharp LED headlight clusters on both sides, giving a stronger visual impact compared to the previous model. On the sides, the inclusion of 21-inch large wheels (front 275/35R21, rear 325/30R21) further enhances the sporty attributes, and the muscular lines around the fenders become more pronounced. Changes at the rear are relatively subtle, with the taillight clusters still featuring a smoked design. The dual exhaust layout on each side retains the traditional GT charm, and the overall design preserves Aston Martin’s elegant genes while enhancing its distinctiveness through refined details.

Stepping inside, the most noticeable change is the center console screen, which has been upgraded from 8 inches in the previous model to 10.25 inches. The screen resolution and touch responsiveness are significantly improved. The overall interior style remains focused on luxury, with a dashboard wrapped in high-quality leather complemented by metal trim, which matches the positioning of a million-level GT. The steering wheel features a flat-bottom design, offering a full grip with a clear layout of multifunctional buttons for ease of operation. The seats adopt a sporty bucket design, offering strong support, and they come with multi-way electric adjustment to suit drivers of different body types. In terms of configurations, the new car comes standard with an Aston Martin customized 11-speaker audio system, a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster, rear fog lights, and interior ambient lighting. While its smart features are not as rich as some emerging brands, the basic functionalities are sufficient to meet daily usage needs.

For space performance, as a two-door GT model, the 2024 Vantage’s passenger space is mainly concentrated in the front row. A 175cm tall individual sitting in the front has about a fist’s worth of headroom, with plenty of legroom, avoiding any sense of constraint. The rear row, due to the car’s design orientation, is not practically useful and can only accommodate small items. As for storage capability, the door storage bins and center armrest compartment offer decent capacity, while the trunk’s standard volume, though not specified, can reportedly fit two 20-inch carry-on suitcases comfortably, meeting the needs for short trips without issue.

The powertrain is the core upgrade of the 2024 Vantage, which comes equipped with a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The maximum horsepower has been increased from 510PS in the previous model to 665PS, with maximum torque reaching 800N·m. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the official 0-100km/h acceleration time has been reduced from 3.6 seconds to 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of up to 325km/h. During actual driving, power responds very rapidly in the starting phase; even a light press on the accelerator provides a strong pushback sensation. Mid to high-range acceleration remains powerful, and overtaking only requires a deep press of the accelerator, at which point the transmission downshifts quickly, delivering unhesitant power output. When switched to Sport mode, the exhaust note becomes deeper and more resonant, and the shift logic becomes more aggressive, providing drivers with ample driving excitement.

In terms of handling, the new car still adopts a rear-wheel-drive layout. The front suspension is a double wishbone independent suspension (same as the previous model). The chassis is tuned to be sporty while retaining a certain level of comfort. The steering wheel is precise with minimal play, and the body remains stable during cornering with excellent roll control. When dealing with bumpy roads, the suspension effectively filters out most of the small vibrations, keeping passengers comfortable while preserving sufficient road feedback. It balances the needs of daily commuting and spirited driving. Regarding fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 12.1L/100km, slightly higher than the previous model's 10.3L/100km—a necessary trade-off for enhanced power. In real driving conditions, the city fuel consumption averages around 15-16L/100km, while highway consumption can be maintained at approximately 10L/100km.

As for driving comfort, the new car offers excellent noise control. Wind noise and tire noise are well suppressed during high-speed driving, ensuring conversations inside the cabin are not disturbed. Although the seats are on the sporty side in terms of support and cushioning, they remain comfortable even for long drives. However, due to its performance-oriented positioning, the suspension can transmit some impact when passing over larger bumps, which affects the comfort of rear-seat passengers to some extent.

Overall, the 2024 Aston Martin Vantage's core strengths lie in the significant boost in power performance, classic and elegant exterior design, and luxurious interior quality. Compared to its competitor, the Porsche 911 Carrera S (priced around RM 1.8 million), the Vantage offers better power specifications but comes at a higher price (RM 2.37 million). However, its unique brand character and design style are attributes that Porsche does not possess. From a market positioning perspective, this car is more suitable for consumers who pursue ultimate driving experiences while valuing brand cachet and elegant design—for example, affluent young entrepreneurs or avid car enthusiasts. These individuals require a sports car that provides weekend driving pleasure yet meets the basic needs of daily commuting.

In conclusion, the 2024 Aston Martin Vantage further strengthens its competitiveness as a luxury GT model through upgrades in power and configuration. Although it comes with a higher price and limited rear-seat practicality, it strikes a commendable balance between performance, design, and brand value. It is a quintessential GT that embodies both passion and elegance.